COVID survives on surfaces longer than thought

CSIRO research shows the virus which causes COVID-19 lasts for 10 days longer than Influenza on some non-porous surfaces such as glass phone screens, stainless steel railings and banknotes.

Should we bank on a vaccine next year?

A group of 28 vaccine researchers say we might have a vaccine by late-2021, though it could take until well into 2022 for an effective vaccine to be well-distributed.

A pandemic of sub-standard research

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a flood of potentially substandard research amid the rush to publish, with a string of papers retracted or under a cloud and a surge in submissions to  pre-print servers where fewer quality checks are made.

Police, PSOs, and the problems with preventative detention powers

New Victorian measures to protect the community by detaining people deemed likely to breach COVID-19 restrictions should be carefully considered to protect human rights.

COVID-19 control rests with human behaviour

As the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine and confirmed cases exceed 30M, QUT behavioural researchers say the key to containment rests in understanding human behaviour and how our personalities may influence better cooperation for the global good.

COVID-19 treatment affected by a shortage of blood plasma

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling on those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to donate their blood plasma for research.

Rating Victoria’s roadmap

Epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely gives Victoria’s Roadmap out of the COVID-19 restrictions 8 out of 10 – noting there may be scope for easing some restrictions sooner rather than later.

Living in the crosshairs of COVID-19

It’s not a particularly pleasant prospect to die from COVID-19 – but John Power will soon face State and Commonwealth decisions that may cost him his life.

Batch testing and contact tracing can stop the lockdown yo-yo

Yo-yoing lockdowns are costly and to be avoided if at all possible. Here is what we can do to dramatically improve testing and tracing.

Better ways to manage quarantine

“He shall be unclean as long as the disease is on him. Being unclean, he shall dwell apart; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” – The Book of Leviticus 13-14

Designing better quarantine

It’s easy to judge people who escape from quarantine as not doing their bit. But if we use some basic principles from behavioural science, we might stop people wanting to escape in the first place.

Assuaging religious fears over COVID vaccines

Church leaders have raised concerns over a COVID-19 vaccine produced using cells derived from aborted foetuses. But the Vatican has already ruled such vaccines ‘morally separate’ from the abortions.